CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The Erevan Choral Society and Orchestra of Greater Boston annual Christmas Concert, a gift to the Boston-area community, has become a tradition, marking the start of the holiday season. The concert took place on Sunday, December 15, in the sanctuary of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston.
This year’s concert was dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the births of the Gomidas Vartabed and writer Hovannes Toumanian.
The students of the Armenian School of Holy Trinity Church opened the program with a number of recitations dedicated to the two. Then, under the traditional song of O Come, All Ye Faithful, played by the orchestra and conducted by Composer Konstantin Petrossian, choral members walked to the altar and commenced the concert, presenting a rich mix of traditional American and Armenian Christmas Carols.
The program also was enhanced by two impressive soloists. Soprano Knarik Nerkarayan’s beautiful voice and unrepeatable performance of Ave Maria by J.S. Bach/Gounod, charmed those present. Tenor Giovanni Famzanoji was a pleasant surprise of the concert, who with his beautiful voice and unique interpretation of traditional Christmas songs, made a great impression on the audience.
A special tribute was paid to Gomidas; a medley of his songs, arranged by Petrossian, was presented for the first time and was warmly received by those present. Needless to say, the famous Yegeghetzin Haygagan (The Armenian Church) song, which was dedicated to the loving memory of the Very Reverend Oshagan Minassian, the founder of the Erevan Choral Society, has become very popular in the community.
